Food contaminated with dead maggots, a razor blade, a cigarette, a fly and wire were some of the calls to the FSAI Advice Line last year. The number of queries and complaints increased by 8% to 14,348 compared with the previous year. In total 2,738 related to complaints by consumers about food and premises, while 11,604 included requests for advice from food businesses.

The FSAI said that the increased activity reflects a demand among food businesses for information about labelling requirements & resources for food business start-ups. There was also a growing awareness among consumers in reporting poor hygiene, it added. Contamination of food with foreign objects was the most frequent reported by consumers.